2026 Honda Passport Has Great New Looks, More Off-Road Abilities

The current Honda Passport is what we auto journalists call a “soft-roader” – an unibody SUV with modest off-road capabilities. The upcoming 2026 Honda Passport embraces those all-terrain aspirations in style and capability. Honda says the 2026 Passport TrailSport is “the most capable Honda SUV ever.” The new model will come in base RTL and rugged TrailSport and TrailSport Elite trims.

The 2026 model sees some significant differences on the outside, with a more burly and squared-off design that I find very appealing. The new Passport is an inch wider, with chunky fender flares, a wider track width, a longer wheelbase, and a more beefy overall look. The longer hood looks more sporty, though I wonder if that will impact forward visibility on trails. On the plus side, the TrailSport Elite has a camera system with tire position graphics. Both the Passport TrailSport and TrailSport Elite get 18-inch wheels wrapped in 31-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires, steel skid plates, and recovery hooks as well.

The suspension has significant upgrades to improve durability and performance on rough and rocky terrain. The MacPherson struts in front have been retuned, while the rear multilink suspension is new and improved for better handling response and comfort. Ground clearance increases from 8.1 to 8.3 inches, while the shorter front overhang improves the approach angle from 21.1º to 23º. Honda’s engineers also increased front and rear rigidity for a more stable and predictable ride.

The 3.5-liter V6 engine gets a modest power bump from 280 to 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft. of torque. Honda’s second-gen i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system comes standard, upgrading the torque handling abilities of the rear axle. It can now send up to 70% of torque to the rear wheels, and torque vectoring allows power to be distributed to either wheel to maximize traction and improve cornering. Gone is the 9-speed automatic transmission, replaced by a new 10-speed unit. Towing capacity is 5000 pounds, the same as the 2025 model.

Inside is a new 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto support. Expect greater off-road comfort from Honda’s body-stabilizing, heated front seats and increased legroom in the second row. Upgrade to the TrailSport Elite, and you’ll get ventilated front seats, rear climate controls, rear door shades, an upgraded 12-speaker Bose sound system, and more.

With an eye toward overlanding and outdoor adventures, the new Passport has more storage space, too. The front console bin is big enough to hold a tablet, the center console has room for two smartphones, and the front seat passenger gets a storage shelf on the dash. With the second row folded, it can carry up to 83.5 cubic feet of cargo – a 5.8 cubic foot increase from the outgoing model. With the back seat occupied, you’ll still get an ample 44 cubic feet – enough for luggage for every passenger.

Expect the 2026 Honda Passport to arrive in dealers in early-2025 with a starting price in the mid-$40,000s. I’m guessing the TrailSport and TrailSport Elite models will start around $50,000, but it’s too soon to know.